diff --git a/snapcraft/plugins/_python/_pip.py b/snapcraft/plugins/_python/_pip.py
index 7cbead63..c3dc6f79 100644
--- a/snapcraft/plugins/_python/_pip.py
+++ b/snapcraft/plugins/_python/_pip.py
@@ -276,6 +276,8 @@ class Pip:
         # or None.
         self._run(
             [
+                "--exists-action",
+                "i",
                 "download",
                 "--disable-pip-version-check",
                 "--dest",